Archie Gillespie
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Tributes to longest serving councillor
By Alicia FrancisMay 15, 2008
Yateley’s longest serving councillor Archie Gillespie has died aged 71.
Cllr Gillespie was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma, a rare blood cancer, last Christmas. He died on May 3.
His wife Beth said: “On Monday it would have been our 46th wedding anniversary.
“We were together for a very long time. He was a great husband and we had three very lovely children.
“His grandchildren will miss him, especially Ross because he lives with us.
“Ross is 12 and said that he has lost his best friend.”
Mrs Gillespie said she had received condolences from many people in Yateley who told her what a great man he was and how grateful they were for his contribution to the community.
Town clerk Lawrence Smith said: “He was a big character in the community and will be sadly missed.
“He was an extremely well liked chap and had a strong following in Frogmore. He was a really nice guy.”
Cllr Gillespie joined the town council in 1991, became chairman in 1997 and was made town mayor a year later.
Town council leader Cllr David Murr said: “He was a first class councillor and was Yateley’s first mayor in 1997, for two weeks.
“Before being appointed mayor there was a vote as to whether the chairman should be both chairman and mayor. Archie voted against it as he thought it was a pompous ceremonial title.
“This happened on May 1 and his office expired just two weeks later.”
He got the chance to perform the role for a full year in 2004-05.
Cllr Gillespie also served on Hart District Council, was much involved in many com-munity bodies and was a gov-ernor at Frogmore Infant and Junior schools.
Current Yateley Mayor Cllr Gill Hennell said: “When his grandson Ross was at the junior school we would meet at the gates and have a chat.
“Archie was always very cheerful and we always had a laugh.
“He was very knowledgeable and easy to talk to.
“I worked with him on the council and it will be very hard for us not to see Archie on the committee.”
Frogmore Infant School headteacher Jill King said: “Archie has been a member of the school committee for over 20 years.
"He carried out his job as a committee governor unconditionally and always put the best interests of the children first.
“He had a great sense of humour which everyone warmed to.
“He loved getting involved with the day to day life of the school.
“He set up recycling projects, a new computer suite and an environmental garden.
“He will be greatly missed by everyone at Frogmore Infant School.”
Cllr Gillespie was part of the Frogmore and Darby Green Social Hall Committee, the Hearsey Gardens Working Party and the Police Liaison Group.
Cllr Murr said: “Archie was a friend. I have known him and his wife Beth for a long time.
“He really was a man of the people. I think everyone will agree that he was fantastic.
“He was outstanding in his service to the community. He had a wonderful sense of humour and had us all laughing at council meetings.
“He will be greatly missed.”
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